Portuguese airline TAP Air Portugal has temporarily laid off 9,000 employees — about roughly 90% of its workforce — grounding most of its operations to a halt, a spokesperson for the company told CNN on Tuesday.
According to the spokesperson, 90% of the company’s 10,000 strong workforce will be suspended from work for a period of 30 days starting on April 2. Under a government-supported scheme, those workers will still continue to receive two-thirds of their salaries. The suspension can be extended after those 30 days.
The remainder 10% of the workforce will continue to work with a 20% reduction of their working hours and pay, the spokesman also said.
The airline’s operation will also be significantly cut short. Before the outbreak, TAP was flying more than 3,000 flights per week, but starting tomorrow, it will limit its operation to 5 flights a week, two to the Portuguese islands of Madeira, and three to the Portuguese Islands of Azores, the spokesman added.
The company will also assist the Portuguese government in the repatriation of Portuguese citizens from abroad, as well as help with transportation of cargo and humanitarian efforts.